Rail brace



Nov. 9 1926.

J. G. MUELLER RAIL BRACE Jrw wcr MUELLER,

JEHN (5,

Filed Jan. 22, 1926 01mm K Patented Non. 9, 1926.

srares I ll i'ggt JOHN G. nuntnnn, or'n'nrron, onto.

RAIL BBACE.

Application filed January 22, 1926. Serial No. 82,927.

My invention relates to rail braces and in particular to a brace forpreventing the spreading of rails.

It is the object of my invention to provide a unitary, detachable,assembled brace to prevent the spreading of rails, adapted to beassociated with the usual retaining spikes which retain the rails frommoving inwardly, and further adapted to be associated with and betweenthe customary supportmg ties for the rails.

In particular it is my object to provide a clamp or engaging member forthe rail which has a universal jaw for receiving the three st ndardsizes of rails.

It is another important object of my invention to provide a base platewhich extends completely from side to side beneath the base of the rail,providing a continuous broad bearing surface for receiving the upsetstrains and the strains of spreading which are imparted to the rails bythe load thereon. It is a further object to provide the supporting tierod directly beneath the plate portion and closely fitting therewith toprevent movement therebetween.

It is my object to provide means to adjust the position of saidclampingmembers on either side of the rails with respect to the independentspikes engaging the separated rails in order that the rails may besuitably maintained in position with respect to one another and clampedbetween the respective spikes and the associated clamping members of myinvention.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a section across a track with therails in section, showing a typical installation of my equipment forpreventing the spreading of rails with one of the rail clamps insection;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 looking outwardly at the inside ofone of the rails with the tie rod in section;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of my rail clamp;

Figure at is an inside end elevation of my rail clamp;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 of my rail clamp.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 designates the usual railroad tieupon which are mounted rails 2 having base flanges 3. The inner flangesof these rails are engaged by the usual spikes 4. Between the ties andextending from rail to rail is arranged my rail brace which consists ofa tie rod 5 threaded at elther end as at 6 and carrymg thereon 'washers7 and nuts 8. Mounted on the op-- posite ends of this tie rod are myclamps conslsting of a closely fitting sleeve portion '9 terminating inan enlarged head portion 10 which consists o1 an annular rib forming abroad bearing plate for the washer 7 and the nut 8. The top of thistubular portion 9 is completely closed by a transverse fiat plate 11upon which the base 3 of the rail rests. It will be noted that thisplate is Wedge shaped. It extends from one margin of the base flange 3to the other, thereby completely spanning the flange. On the outside ofthe plate is an upwardly and inwardly projecting hook portion 12 whichhas a broad bearing end 13which rests upon the upper surface of the base3 of the rail. The space 1% between the flat surface of the plate 11 andthe angular surface of the hook 12 is of such size and taper that railsof varying width of base flange 3 are accommodated therein so that I mayemploy a standard clamping member in my rail brace.

It will be noted that this hook 12 has a hollow arch-shapedconstruction, thereby imparting to it great strength.

It will be further noted that reinforcing flanges or braces 15 extendfrom the walls of the tubular portion 9 upwardly to the plate portion11.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my inventionsuch modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditionsand uses.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, in a rail brace, a tie rod, retaining members forsaid rails slidably mounted on the ends of said tie rod, nuts on the endof said rod for engagement with the ends of said retaining members, saidretaining members consisting of closely engaging tubular portions, railengaging base plate portions and hook portions for engaging the outsideedge and top of said rail, said hook portions consisting of arch shapedmembers having fiat end and lateral engaging portions.

2. A rail engaging member for use in a rail brace consisting of atubular portion, a plate portion mounted thereon, a hook portion mountedon the end thereof extending over said plate portion but separatedtherefrom, said plate portion being adapted to extend the complete widthbeneath the base of a rail, and said hook portion being adapted toextend a lesser distance than the base plate portion, both of said hookand base plate portions being tapered from one end of the tubularportion inwardly toward the other end.

3. A rail engaging member for use in a rail brace consisting of atubular portion,

a plate portion mounted thereon, a hook portion mounted, on the endthereof extending over said plate portion but separated therefrom, saidplate portion being adapted to extend the complete width beneath thebase of a rail, and said hook portion being adapted to extend a lesserdistance than the base plate portion, both of said hook and base plateportions being tapered from one end of the tubular port-ion inwardlytoward the other end, and an annular rib on said tubular portion adaptedto support said plate portion.

4. The combination, in a rail brace, of a member having a tubularportion fitting on a rail brace rod, a plate portion mounted thereon anda hook portion connected toone end thereof extending above said plateportion having the margins of said hook portion extending upwardly andoutwardly, said hook portion having its outer end parallel with saidplate portion and the interior of the hook portion formed in an arch toimpart strength thereto.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JOHN G. MUELLER.

